Ramona Dallum Lindsey, Artist

Friday, July 6, 2012

Daily local and national media cover the horrendous acts
of violence happening in Chicago, Illinois. Attention is drawn constantly to
the senseless murders in an effort to raise awareness of Chicago's problems.Unforturnately in media's sensationalism of
Chicago, all Chicago youth are cast in a very negative light.Chicago is a city of contradictions. It is
the home of both peace and violence, opportunity and decay.Presently, our dominant image is that of the
negative.I believe it is time for
artists to flip that script.Our work
should expose the greatness of people, especially our young.

July 9th - August 3rd, 2012 at HumanThreads Gallery (645
West 18th St, Chicago, IL 60616) the We Too Are Chicago! Exhibit intends
to shine a spotlight on the hopes, dreams, potential, and achievement of young
people often overlooked by mainstream media. Artists Ramona Dallum Lindsey and
Trish Williams will offer their perspective on the issues surrounding our youth
through their unique textile art. The exhibit will feature a host of commentary
and abstract wall art inspired by poetry written by Mrs. Lindsey.

Mrs. Lindsey and Ms. Williams use textile art techiques based
in the African-American quilting tradition. Quilting is a historic textile art
with deep roots which brought together communities. As quilters worked together
they shared the stories of their community. We Too Are Chicago is a
unique visual art experience aiming to get our community talking about Chicago's
youth determined to achieve success regardless of their daily challenges.Members of the community were invited to
share photographs displaying the successes of young people in Chicago.A handful of these images will accompany the
textiles.In addition, a young emerging
artist from Kenwood Academy High School (Chicago,IL), Gerald Brown, will offer a glimpse into the
mind of this generation through 4 of her dynamic photographs.

The show opens July 9, 2012 at 6:00 pm with an opening
reception in partnership with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.Rev. Jesse L.Jackson, Sr., the famed civil rights leader, activitist, and minister will
offer remarks touching on the present and future roles of
music, hip-hop, art, and youth for social change. The event serves as a Pre-Conference Reception for
their 41st Annual "Rainbow PUSH Coalition & Citizenship Education
Fund" Conference, July 11 - 14, at Chicago Hilton & Towers.

Fortitude is the courage to continue in
the face of uncertanity. There is a great deal of uncertainty associated
with participation in juried shows. Generally the selection process
begins by submitting 3 - 4 photographs of your best art along with a
non-refundable application fee. It is difficult choosing photos that
will impress an unknown jury while representing my best art.
Furthermore, my photos must convince festival promoters that my work has
mass appeal.

The same photos I used for the FSAF were used for
the 57th Street Art Fair (Chicago, IL) and Baltimore Artscape
(Baltimore, MD). Fountain Square said yes while the latter two
responded no. One size doesn't fit all, so what may work for one show
might not be right for another. Perseverance and understanding is the
key. You must not let the no's stop you from trying, but understanding
your audience will give you a better shot at a yes.

Before leaving
for the FSAF I spent hours creating new works with various price
points. My items ranged in price from $30-$1,800. I created enough
inventory so selling a third would net me $3,333. My sales team -
husband and 2 children - are invested in the plan, because they receive
compensation from my business once these goals are accomplished. By
the end of day one of the two day event, I had made no sales and
obtained 26 new contacts. I knew day two would be better, but I was
wrong. At the close of FSAF, my sales totaled $0 and my contacts were
30. I took a risk that didn't pay-off in dollars, but intangible
rewards. My bank account was broke, but my spirit soared. Why? Because
God gave me the fortitude, family, and friends to see the blessings in
the experience. He used the power of camaraderie to push me through
challenges to realize His opportunity.

Where does camaraderie come
from on the festival circuit? It comes from the participating
artists. My two day experience brought me new friendships and
connections. I heard the mantra of veteran circuit artists including
glass artists,Irene Sherman and Cari Johnson,
"Don't be discouraged." Many told me to continue attending shows until
I find my market. Several also advised that FSAF was not the right
venue for high end fine art. Every festival has a personality and a
following. I learned I must do my research to discover each show's
personality before applying. Painter, Chris Whitaker, gave me a copy of Sunshine Artist Magazine as a source to begin my research.

Michel Delgado,
an artist from the Florida Keys and winner of Best in Show - 2D Media,
taught me an important lesson. He said the main purpose of
participating in the festival circuit is to get more eyes on my high end
fine art. According to Michel, most fine art collectors don't buy from
open air markets, but high quality fine art with a message will
eventually attract galleries and collectors. The key is to expose the
work to the market. The festival circuit is one way to introduce the
work and your story to a living audience.

William Kwamena-Poh,
a painter out of Savannah, Georgia and winner of Best in Show -
Painting, encouraged me to rethink my price points and presentation of
my entry level work. In my effort to offer festival goers with meager
budgets my mixed media fine art, I presented mixed media textile art on a
blank greeting card. William suggested that the work was too high
quality to present in such a way. In addition, the art's presentation
didn't agree with the collector's perceived use of it. He offered that
fine artists must not run the risk of devaluing a complete and quality
work of art in order to generate sales.

Finally FSAF reinforced my
purpose for creating fine art. My mission is to inspire, represent,
and nourish the human spirit with art. FSAF allowed me to interact with
real people drawn to my creations. I shared my story with over one
hundred people. Many of them expressed appreciation for what I was
doing, but several showed genuine emotion. One woman, a casual artist,
told me my art gave her the inspiration to step outside her box. That
it wasn't necessary for her to create in the same way as other artists,
but to be her unique self. A counselor from a battered women's shelter
commented that my work had a powerful story to encourage her clients
through their dark times. Finally, a single mom shed tears after hearing
my story of releasing the past to embrace my future as an artist.

Creating
art for me is more than earning dollars. It's about elevating spirits
and fulfilling my divine purpose. God asks, if he takes care of the
birds, why would He do any less for me? I must continue on the path He
has placed before me assured in the promise that He will help me
victoriously through it.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Every artist, visual or performing, who seeks to earn a
living looks for ways to share their work with the buying public.The festival show circuit is a viable option
for many visual artist.I stepped into
this arena for the very first time with my participation in the Fountain Square
Art Festival (FSAF) in Evanston, Illinois.For those of you not familiar with the festival circuit, in a nut shell
it is all the spring, summer, fall, and winter opportunities were vendors
display their wares for purchase.My
husband likened the experience to the medieval merchants traveling the
countryside in horse and wagon selling their goodies from the roadside.

The Festival Show circuit is a thriving industry in the
creative world.Festival promoters make
money through artist application fees, vendor booth rentals, corporate
sponsorships, and entry fees.Artists
are paid through their booth sales and ,in some cases, cash awards for
outstanding fineart or
craftsmanship.Participation in the
festival show circuit comes with both benefits and risks, but many artist see
it as a way to expand their opportunities beyond gallery representation.

As an emerging artist, I choose to enter the festival circuit
as a way to self-promote my work.I view
my art as a business venture.The
festival circuit gives me a platform to begin branding my work and introducing
it to the public.I have total control
over the presentation and marketing of my art.I decide where my art is viewed and how it is seen.Many galleries are reluctant to represent an
artist with limited exposure.I am
absorbing some risks in order to gain exposure in anticipation of future sales
and gallery representation.What are my
risks? The most costly risk is infrastructure investment to promote my
work.Then comes festival circuit expenses.And finally unpredictable consumers.

My goal for 2012 is to participate in at least 3 juried fine
art shows, with one of these being outside of Illinois, my home state. I only apply to juried
shows with projected attendance of over 20,000.Shows of this size give me a broader audience resulting in increased
opportunities for sales.But sales are
not my only goal, I wish to add 120 potential clients to my mailing list during
each event.

FSAF was my first opportunity to test my
plan.Part 2 of this post will describe
my results.

Monday, June 4, 2012

My church offers a separate worship service for our children
and young people.Yesterday I attended as
a guest.The children's minister, Rev.
E. C. Cunningham, spoke to the children about God's ability to answer
questions.He shared with the kids that
all they needed to do was ask and God would answer.Sometime the answer is immediate but some
answers require waiting. At times my journey as an emerging artist is daunting,
and that's when I wonder how other artists made it.

Woodrow Nash is one of my favorite sculptors.Recently, my mother-in-law gave us an early
Woodrow Nash piece.Last week while
reflecting on my journey as an artist I was admiring Mr. Nash's piece.I thought, "When he made that piece he
was like me - unknown and trying to make it."I asked God to show me how Mr. Nash was able
to persist.My prayer was that God show
me how I could learn Woodrow Nash's story. Yesterday, around 4:45 pm God
answered my prayer.

June 3rd was the last day of the 57th Street Art Fairand Hyde Park Community Art Fair in Chicago's
Hyde Park Neighborhood.I had promised
Pearlie Taylor, one of my mother's in art, that I would visit her at the fair.After a Saturday packed full with meetings
and a busy Sunday at church, my daughter and I reluctantly left the house at
3:00 pm to visit Pearlie before the art fair ended at 5:00 pm. We hung out with Pearlie until around 4:30 and
decided to stroll around the fair booths.To my surprise, we discovered Woodrow Nash just 15 minutes before all
artists began to close shop.This was
his first year participating in the art fair.

While admiring his work and waiting to meet him, I shared
the story of how my mother-in-law recently gifted us with a Woodrow Nash bust
that she purchased in the early 1990's.Unbeknownst
to me, one of the ladies in the group was his wife, Wanda Nash.She began to tell me about that time in his
career.She shared with me his journey
from a painter, to graphic designer, to acclaimed sculptor. She talked about
their struggles and successes.But most
importantly she told me that her husband's talent, just like mine, was a gift
from God that God is requiring us to share with the world.She encouraged me to remain faithful and
focused on achieving what God has put in me to accomplish.

Who knew that God would answer my question so
quickly while giving me exactly what I needed to continue the journey.All I had to do was ask!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Life is a journey that should not be traveled alone. It is
riddled with peaks and valleys that are best navigated with experience,
knowledge, and wisdom. When two or more
walk together, the impact of experience, knowledge and wisdom improves. Men journey differently through life than
women. Women depend on a strong,
enduring sisterhood to navigate our journey.
We depend on like minded women committed to purposes greater than the
individual. As each woman connects to the sisterhood, she finds the strength to
identify and fulfill her purpose.

Sisters' Road is a triptych consisting of three related panels
- Founders'
Road, Builders' Road, and Legacies' Road. Together these panels tell the story of an
enduring sisterhood.
Each form symbolizes mind, body, and spirit connected by faith, hope, and
love. They stand proudly on a crimson
road showcasing their courage and strength to be undeterred against challenges
in life's journey. When the three panels are placed side by side one can see in
the distance the courage of the founders shoulder to shoulder staking the
foundation for a lasting sisterhood.
The chain continues as sisters work together to build upon the founders'
goals and missions. Lastly, the legacy of the sisterhood is dependent on the
efforts of current and future members to radiate into the world.

Women often find themselves belonging to a
number of sisterhoods. Some were born
into a sisterhood through the union of their parents. Faith made others members
of spiritual sisterhoods. Common
interests encouraged some women to create social sisterhoods. Some sisterhoods encompass
many areas of women's lives. Delta SigmaTheta Sorority, Inc. is such a sisterhood.
It was found January 13, 1913 as a sisterhood of black college educated
women committed to public service. Many
of the sorority's defining principles are rooted in Christian principles. I became a member of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Inc. in 1991. Sisters'
Road is my tribute to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the many
sisterhoods embodied by its members.

Sisters' Road will be featured at Gallery D'Estee March 2nd & 3rd at the Parkway Ballroom. The triptych will be available for purchase.

Monday, February 27, 2012

A down turned economy is like a drought in a once fertile
land.The plants and animals that most
quickly adjust to their changed environment survive.Those who don’t perish.However, there are some natural creations
that position themselves to thrive regardless of environmental conditions.

Take for instance a
seed planted near the bank of a vibrant stream where the soil isn’t too rock.
The soil’s fertilized by the droppings of the animals who visit daily for a
cool drink. The sunlight which warms the stream also provides energy for the
seed. When the seed sprouts its roots
become anchored deep beneath the stream.The seed develops into a sapling.

Over time it matures into a mighty oak.Strong branches support a lush, emerald
canopy shading the stream.It learns to
sway with strong winds constantly anchored by the stream’s rich soil and
nourishment. During a season of consistent rain the stream is fed. The water
supply is abundant.In periods of
drought the stream is diminished, but its moisture continues to seep into the
soil.The roots planted beneath the
stream absorb the soils moisture.While
trees further from the stream whither and wilt, the mighty oak continues to
thrive.

People who properly position themselves will do more than
survive in tough times.Some people
position themselves through education, training, and networking.These are external resources thatare often dependent on environmental
conditions.Their reliability may become
questionable in the most challenging conditions. Others look inward and upward
for proper positioning.They depend on
spirituality, faith, and belief.

Abundance is the fourth tree in the Trees of Life Series. It reminds each of us to position ourselves before the tough times so we
can thrive in both times of plenty and famine.It shows us how to be like the biblical person in Jeremiah 17:7-8 who's
faith is like a tree planted by a riverbank who is not bothered or worried by
months of drought, but continues to produce lush, healthy fruit. Abundance is the first tree in the series to incorporate wrapped wool fibers and hand crotchet techniques. It is the smallest of the four trees in the series, but showcases the most intricate details.

Abundance can be seen and purchased at Gallery D'estee on March 2nd and 3rd at the Parkway Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois. Visit Gallery D'estee 2012: Art InTENsified for more information.